Cobb aims for extended start as Rays battle Red Sox

Published May 16, 2013

| Sports Network

advertisement

Alex Cobb had electric stuff his last time out. However, he couldn't get out of the fifth inning. With a taxed bullpen, though, the Tampa Bay Rays will need better than that on Thursday when they wrap up a three-game set versus the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field.

Cobb allowed three runs on Friday to the San Diego Padres, but also struck out
13 batters in just 4 2/3 innings and received a no-decision. He became the
first major leaguer to fan 13 while failing to complete five innings.

"I don't know if that's a good thing," said Cobb, who threw 112 pitches in the
effort. "As a starting pitcher, you want to go at least five innings every
time out.

"I can't really explain why or how that happened. It was just one of those
weird days," Cobb said. "Obviously, that's not my goal. I never go into a game
trying to strike everybody out."

A Boston native, Cobb is 4-2 on the season with a 3.09 ERA. One of his losses
came to the Red Sox and he is 2-2 in four starts against them with a 3.18 ERA.

Tampa may need to stretch Cobb out a bit on Thursday after David Price was
forced to leave in the third inning of Wednesday's 9-2 loss with left triceps
tightness.

Stephen Drew's grand slam capped an eight-run third inning for Boston while
Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Mike Napoli and Jonny Gomes each added an RBI
during the onslaught to help the Red Sox put the brakes on a three-game
slide.

Jon Lester (6-0) worked seven solid innings, giving up eight hits and two runs
with five strikeouts. The 29-year-old lefty hasn't lost since Sept. 26, 2012
in a start at Fenway against Tampa, and hasn't dropped a road decision since
Sept. 16 of last season at Toronto.

"Finally, we broke out with the eight runs in one inning," Red Sox manager
John Farrell said. "It gave us some cushion to allow Lester to go out and
pitch. More than anything, for our guys to go up and swing with some freedom,
take some at-bats with some confidence. A good night offensively, particularly
in the one inning."

Desmond Jennings hit an RBI triple and Ben Zobrist also knocked in a run for
the Rays, whose season-high six-game win streak came to an end.

Price (1-4), meanwhile, departed after just 2 1/3 frames, but was tagged for
five hits and four runs. Jamey Wright subbed for the reigning AL Cy Young
winner, but surrendered the other four BoSox runs in the inning.

"No excuses, I just stunk tonight," Wright said. "I threw two sinkers right
down the middle. One got hit for a double and one got hit up the middle. Then
a cutter into Drew, I tried to go up and in and I threw it right down and in
right into his swing path. He hit a home run. It was awful. I didn't do my job
out there today."

Getting the call for the Red Sox on Thursday will be lefty Felix Doubront, who
is 3-1 with a 6.40 ERA. Doubront did not get a decision the last time he
pitched on May 8 against Minnesota, as he allowed six runs and 11 hits in 5
1/3 frames of a 15-8 loss.

Doubront is 2-1 in seven games (4 starts) against the Rays with a 3.91 ERA.